The East Morgan County Hospital held their second 'Community Health Neighborhood Engagement' meeting to evaluate the health challenges and opportunities in the community for their Hospital Transformation Program.

Once it is set up, HTP will be the program through which the hospitals will receive their supplemental funding from the state for the Colorado Medicaid program, Health First Colorado.

Collecting input from stakeholders in the community is part of the HTP goals for hospitals to evaluate their health challenges to provide care more effectively, collaboratively and efficiently.

Thorpe reminded attendees their goal for the HTP meetings is to get input and feedback from the community health organizations and other stakeholders.

Thorpe repeated the county health focus areas EMCH, Colorado Plains Medical Center and the Northeast Colorado Health Department all highlighted at the last HTP meeting: access to care, chronic health and behavioral health.

Matt Hayes, a special finance projects manager with the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Finance, said at the meeting anyone can learn more about the 'Community and Health Neighborhood Engagement Process' through the HTP website on Colorado.gov.

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Hayes also said organizations or anyone could access at the site the 'CDPHE Open Data' to learn more about different health information on the county and state level.

Thorpe gave an overview of Banner Health, since EMCH is a Banner facility. CNO Roan also ran through some strategic initiatives they are currently focusing on: the prevention of septic shock, of surgical site infections and of hospital acquired pneumonia (HAPS).

Thorpe discussed the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps data that was recently released for Morgan and 58 of the 64 total Colorado counties. She said Morgan County ranked number 32 out of 58 for outcome rankings and number 41 out of 58 for health factors.

Thorpe highlighted some of the concerning health factors in the county, including: higher levels of adult smoking, obesity, inactivity, preventable hospital stays, uninsured residents and lower levels of mammography screening, among others.

Thorpe discussed some of the changes between the last year of rankings data from 2016 compared to the 2019 published data. Some of the factors and outcomes had stayed about the same, while others had changed slightly.

Thorpe reported physical inactivity went up from 20 to 204 percent, while the uninsured rate went from 20 to 13 percent. She also compared the data to Colorado overall and top performers across the country.

Thorpe and Roan discussed some of the hospitals efforts to address several of the challenges, including chronic disease, like diabetes screenings, and obesity and nutrition, such as the hospital's Weigh and Win program.

When asked about the Alternative to Opioids (ALTO) program the hospital has adopted in recent months, Roan said they have already seen significant decreases in opioid distribution by providers and they look forward to see how the program continues.

Thorpe highlighted some of their current and developing partnerships with NHCD, Centennial Mental Health and S.A.R.A., Inc. among others. She also asked the attendees, and to community organizations in general, "How can we support you?"

Community organizations interested in providing feedback to EMCH about health challenges or potential partnerships may contact Thorpe or Roan at the hospital.

The hospital also split this meeting into two options. The next meeting option will be held at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 6, at EMCH, or it can be called into or Skyped for those unable to physically attend.

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